Graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller
First Claim
1. A method for programming a scheduled set point of a programmable thermostat having a touch screen as part of the thermostat, the thermostat adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with the scheduled set point, the scheduled set point having a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a display image on the touch screen, wherein the display image includes one or more touch regions at predefined known locations on the touch screen for use in setting a time value and a corresponding temperature value for the scheduled set point, the time value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined known locations and the temperature value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined different known locations;
monitoring the one or more touch regions for touching by a user;
changing the time value for the scheduled set point if the monitoring step determines that the one or more touch regions associated with the time value have been touched; and
changing the temperature value for the scheduled set point if the monitoring step determines that the one or more touch regions associated with the temperature value have been touched.
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Abstract
A graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller. The user interface system has a central processing unit coupled to a memory and a touch sensitive display unit. The memory stores a temperature schedule data structure and perhaps a temperature history data structure. The temperature schedule data structure is made up of at least one set-point. The temperature history data structure is made up of at least one Actual-Temperature-Point. The display presents the set-points and/or the Actual-Temperature-Points. One representation of the display is a graphical step-function. The user uses a finger or stylus to program the set-points by pointing and dragging a portion of the step-function.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method for programming a scheduled set point of a programmable thermostat having a touch screen as part of the thermostat, the thermostat adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with the scheduled set point, the scheduled set point having a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a display image on the touch screen, wherein the display image includes one or more touch regions at predefined known locations on the touch screen for use in setting a time value and a corresponding temperature value for the scheduled set point, the time value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined known locations and the temperature value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined different known locations;
monitoring the one or more touch regions for touching by a user;
changing the time value for the scheduled set point if the monitoring step determines that the one or more touch regions associated with the time value have been touched; and
changing the temperature value for the scheduled set point if the monitoring step determines that the one or more touch regions associated with the temperature value have been touched. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A programmable thermostat, comprising:
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a thermostat having one or more scheduled set points, wherein each of the one or more scheduled set points includes a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the thermostat further having a touch screen as part of the thermostat, and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature at the location of the thermostat;
a memory for storing at least one temperature schedule that includes the one or more scheduled set points; and
a controller coupled to the memory, the touch screen and the temperature sensor, the controller adapted accept a signal from the temperature sensor, and control an HVAC system in accordance with the at least one scheduled set points, the controller providing a display image on the touch screen, wherein the display image includes one or more touch regions at predefined known locations on the touch screen for use in setting a time value and a corresponding temperature value for a scheduled set point, the time value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined known locations and the temperature value having one or more associated touch regions at different predefined known locations, the controller further adapted to monitor the one or more touch regions of the touch screen for touching by a user, and changing the time value for the scheduled set point if the controller determines that the one or more touch regions associated with the time value have been touched, and changing the temperature value for the scheduled set point if the controller determines that the one or more touch regions associated with the temperature value have been touched. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for displaying a scheduled set point of a programmable thermostat having a touch screen as part of the thermostat, the thermostat adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with the scheduled set point, the scheduled set point having a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a display image on the touch screen, wherein the display image includes one or more touch regions at predefined known locations on the touch screen for use in setting a time value and a corresponding temperature value for the scheduled set point; and
the time value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined known locations and the temperature value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined different known locations, wherein the time value and the temperature value are simultaneously displayed in a numerical format at predefined known locations of the display image. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for displaying at least two temperate schedules of a programmable thermostat, wherein the programmable thermostat includes a touch screen as part of the thermostat, the thermostat adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with the at least two temperature schedules, each of the at least two temperature schedules including at least one scheduled set point having a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying on the touch screen at least part of a first one of the at least two temperate schedules, wherein the first one of the at least two temperate schedules corresponds to two or more days of a week;
monitoring one or more predefined known locations on the touch screen for a touch by a user; and
displaying on the touch screen at least part of a second one of the at least two temperate schedules when the monitoring step determines that one or more of the predefined known locations has been touched by the user, wherein the second one of the at least two temperate schedules corresponds to two or more days of a week that are different from the two or more days of the first temperate schedule. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A method for operating a programmable thermostat, wherein the programmable thermostat includes a touch screen as part of the thermostat, the thermostat adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with one or more temperature schedule, each of the one or more temperature schedules including at least one scheduled set point having a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying one or more temperature values on the touch screen in a numerical format in units of degrees Fahrenheit;
monitoring one or more predefined known locations on the touch screen for a touch by a user; and
displaying one or more temperature values on the touch screen in a numerical format in units of degrees Celsius when the monitoring step determines that one or more of the predefined known locations has been touched by the user. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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50. A method for operating a programmable thermostat, wherein the programmable thermostat includes a touch screen as part of the thermostat, the thermostat adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with at least one temperature schedules, each of the at least one temperature schedules including at least one scheduled set point having a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying one or more temperature values on the touch screen in a numerical format in units of degrees Celsius;
monitoring one or more predefined known locations on the touch screen for a touch by a user; and
displaying one or more temperature values on the touch screen in a numerical format in units of degrees Fahrenheit when the monitoring step determines that one or more of the predefined known locations has been touched by the user. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. A method for programming a scheduled set point of a programmable thermostat having a touch screen as part of the thermostat, the thermostat adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with the scheduled set point, the scheduled set point having a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a display image on the touch screen, wherein the display image includes one or more touch regions at predefined known locations on the touch screen for use in setting a time value and a corresponding temperature value for the scheduled set point, the time value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined known locations and the temperature value having one or more associated touch regions at predefined different known locations;
monitoring the one or more touch regions for touching by a user; and
on a first touch of the one or more touch regions associated with the time value, changing the time value to a different value; and
on a first touch of the one or more touch regions associated with the temperature value, changing the temperature value to a different value. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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Specification